The impact of climate change and the potential for more days of extreme heat are concerns for airports around the world but Adelaide Airport is investigating ways to use water to lower ambient temperatures. A trial involving SA Water and Adelaide Airport to assess the use of stormwater to irrigate big buffers around the airport has produced promising early results, demonstrating the cooling effect of lucerne hay. The trial compared lucerne against ...
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A new approach to airport pavements in Australia that could reduce maintenance costs and improve the durability of runways could be just around the corner. University of the Sunshine Coast research student Sean Jamieson will present a potential alternative option at the AAA Pavement Technology Workshop next month. The workshop will also give delegates the opportunity to hear about other industry research and technology standards, along with an international perspective from the ...
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Start with the problem you want to solve and then work out whether technology will solve it for you. That’s the advice from digital futurist Hugh Bradlow who also worries too many people are getting taken in by hype. Dr Bradlow told the recent Australian Airports Association national conference in Brisbane that people who tried to apply a technology such as artificial intelligence where it wasn’t applicable would be disappointed. “And you’ll make ...
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Airports have been urged to be creative with technology but not get so carried way with digital transformations that they forget the human element of passenger interactions. SITA vice president Catherine Mayer unveiled a smorgasbord of hi-tech possibilities airports could use to boost customer engagement. These ranged from holograms to service robots and chatbots. She suggested holograms could be used to give people weather reports in aerobridges, help non-English speakers navigate food menus ...
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SITA chief executive Barbara Dalibard says making the passenger journey as secure and seamless as possible is "the will of the industry". Two global surveys show how the future of travel will be powered by technology.
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Innovative ideas aimed at addressing community shortfalls are helping drive the development of business precincts at Australian airports. A number of airports are thinking outside the box to harness demand for facilities that are unavailable or in short supply in the regions they serve. When Darwin International Airport looked at rebranding its business precinct, it did a gap analysis to see which areas of Top End culture were not being addressed.
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Melbourne Airport is looking to join the worldwide trend towards swing gates as international traffic numbers continue to grow and it seeks to offer airline customers cost-effective access to aerobridges. Melbourne has been one of Australia’s stars when it comes to international passenger growth and its latest master plan forecasts it will see almost 20 million international passengers and over 81,000 international aircraft movements annually by 2038. International one-way peak passenger ...
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When Evan Collins wanted to find a new way to monitor Perth Airport’s airside perimeter fence, he looked to the skies for inspiration. The airport’s new approach to its perimeter patrols was developed in an Australian airport first after seeing the effectiveness of videos used on police helicopters. Inspiration struck as Collins’ team sought to improve aviation protection officers’ ability to more accurately monitor the airport’s expansive fence line.
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When Airports Council International director general Angela Gittins recently praised Australian airports for their strong environmental stewardship, she singled out the Sunshine Coast Airport for its achievement in becoming Australia’s first carbon neutral airport. There are now 12 other Australian airports participating in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Program — more than a quarter of the 44 involved in the Asia-Pacific — but Sunshine Coast was the pioneer.
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Paul Ferguson has a strong argument for why the Australian flight training industry should be taking up the opportunities stemming from burgeoning demand for pilots in South East Asia: the impressive development at the airport he runs. A partnership between leading flight training organisation CAE Oxford Aviation Academy and China Eastern Airlines has secured Moorabbin Airport a quality anchor customer that supports the airport’s long-term investments in aviation infrastructure.
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